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With Heartsick, Chelsea Cain took the crime world by storm, introducing two of the most compelling characters in decades: serial killer Gretchen Lowell and her obsessed pursuer, Portland Detective Archie Sheridan. The book spent four weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and garnered rave reviews around the world. But the riveting story of... more » Archie and Gretchen was left unfinished, and now Chelsea Cain picks up the tale again. When the body of a young woman is discovered in Portland's Forest Park, Archie is reminded of the last time they found a body there, more than a decade ago: it turned out to be the Beauty Killer's first victim, and Archie's first case. This body can't be one of Gretchen's -- she's in prison -- but after help from reporter Susan Ward uncovers the dead woman's identity, it turns into another big case. Trouble is, Archie can't focus on the new investigation because the Beauty Killer case has exploded: Gretchen Lowell has escaped from prison. Archie hadn't seen her in two months; he'd moved back in with his family and sworn off visiting her. Though it should feel like progress, he actually feels worse. The news of her escape spreads like wildfire, but secretly, he's relieved. He knows he's the only one who can catch her, and in fact, he has a plan to get out from under her thumb once and for all. Chelsea Cain has topped her own bestselling debut thriller with this unputdownable, unpredictable, edge-of-your-seat read.« less

Top Member Book Reviews

I really enjoyed this one. The first installment of the series-Heartsick was really good. I loved this second one. I can't describe how good it was. Chelsea Cain is worth the hype. Please do read Heartsick first though you will be able to feel this book's emotion much more if you do.

Last year, I read Heartsick and was blown away. Tonight, in one sitting, I read Sweetheart and was again in awe. Like Heartsick, Sweetheart has to be one of my all time favorite books.

The twisted, sick, unstable relationship between Archie and Gretchen is written so perfectly. This author has a true gift for writing. She puts you there at the scene. You smell the corpses. You taste the bitterness of the pills Archie continues to shovel in like candy. This book drags you in from page 1 and doesn't let go even long after you've closed the book.

This "series" (I can only hope there will be more!) reminds me a lot of Thomas Harris' Hannibal Lechter. The character Gretchen Lowell is extremely intelligent but also enormously twisted. Another excellent read from this author. I was not disappointed!

Although both Heartsick and Sweetheart contain plot elements commonly found in serial killer/thriller books, Cain's series continues to be outstanding because she brings her characters to life so well. The main character of Archie is especially unique, and the scenes in Sweetheart in which Archie tries to return to a normal life with his family are very poignant.

In addition, Cain manages to maintain a dark tone throughout both books, causing the reader to feel a sense of dread as s/he turns the pages. The reader is submerged in the grisly details of Archie's world from page 1 of Sweetheart.

Although I very much enjoyed the Gretchen storyline of Sweetheart, overall I did not like it as much as Heartsick because I was a little disappointed by the Susan storyline. It seemed like relating the two stories was too much of a stretch.

Overall however, this book is a must read for fans of grisly thrillers, and I hope that Cain does not make us wait as long for the third installment.

Archie Sheridan is a homicide detective, as well as The Beauty Killer, Gretchen Lowell's, last victim. This is a very dark, disturbing book. Archie Sheridan was tortured and mutilated by Gretchen Lowell before she was captured and sent to prison. Despite the un-ending nightmares and the addiction to pill killers brought about as a result of his experience with Gretchen, Archie is in love with Gretchen and is obsessed with being with her. This book is a page-turner -- filled with twists and turns. Not for the faint of heart though.

WOW I was blown away by how awesome this book was.
It just sucked you in from page 1 and never let go. It is one of those once you start you
cannot put down books.
The continuing saga of Archie and Gretchen it boggles the mind how two complete opposites can be so drawn to each other in ways that I cannot describe. (to do so would give the book away).
You must read Heartsick first just to keep the books in order and yes she has the third installment out and oh yeah ....it was just as great.